Floorcraft!
What is Floorcraft ? And why is it relevant ?
The short answer is this: Floorcraft is in its essence an observance and awareness of other couples in the room in relation to you, your dance partner, and vocabulary choices one makes whilst staying in the line, lane, and progression of dance of the rotunda at a milonga. Usually floorcraft issues arise due to the amount (or lack there of) of the available space a dancing pair can take up, *AND* at the same time the application of certain codes of etiquette of the dance. Like for instance, not stepping on anyone’s foot, or trying to keep your dance safe and contained as much as is humanly possible, etc.
Floorcraft is probably the single most talked about thing that most people complain about on either side of the gender divide. At the same time, most people, unless you point it out to them, have absolutely no idea what Floorcraft is, and/or why its an absolute necessity. The following is a paraphrased statement by Tony Rathburn out of Denver applies very nicely: Floorcraft is Dancing like the way you should Drive!. Well said. However, I disagree with the simplicity of that statement. While its very clear, very clean…it lacks a little clarity in terms of having it spelled out. As I have learned in dancing over the years…some folks really do need it spelled out for them.
With that in mind, I’ve put together my own list that takes into account several previous authors and their attempts at the subject via a recent thread on Facebook. Thanks to Robin, Vanja, Homer, Manuel, Debbi, and Tony, and many others I have forgotten.
What is below is not a complete list, but its my interpretation of the list of suggestions for floorcraft on a social dance floor. Your mileage my vary, and I reserve the right to change this list as the need arises. This list is by no means complete, nor is it as concise as it needs to be. It is a work in progress and Im not the sole author here. This is just my take on the issue of Floorcraft.
Rules of Floorcraft
1.) Leaders when entering the line of dance, make eye contact with the on coming traffic of leaders and acknowledge that you’d like to enter the line of dance and only do so when you have consented acknowledgement of the leader next in the lane of dance. Also remember that we want to have 1 couple merging into the Rotunda at a time, IE: Queue up!
2.) Keep your dance vocabulary limited to the size of the Lane and the Progression of dance of the rotunda. Avoid, stepping backwards into the line of dance, avoid leaving the lane of dance, and respect the space of the couples ahead you, behind you, and next to you, try not to tailgate or hold up the progression of the rotunda.
3.) Try to form multiple LANES of dance so that we can all share the space together. Keep the lanes moving in an orderly progression. Try to keep the ‘flashy’ moves to an absolute minimum, so that it doesn’t interfere or frighten other couples.
4.) When collisions happen: Smile, Make Eye Contact to acknowledge the collision, and then *APOLOGIZE* as soon as is humanly possible, even if you think you are right.
5.) In crowded spaces, try to keep your vocabulary limited to foundational movements in close or open, and really try to keep the follower’s feet on the floor. If you must throw a boleo, aim for the edges of the dance floor.